TENNIS: Gadecki and Peers become first duo in 37 years to defend Australian Open mixed doubles crown

MELBOURNE – Australia’s Olivia Gadecki and John Peers became the first pair in 37 years to successfully defend the Australian Open mixed doubles title on Friday, defeating France’s Kristina Mladenovic and Manuel Guinard 4-6, 6-3, 10-8 in a thrilling final.

The wildcard duo became the first team since Jana Novotna and Jim Pugh in 1989 to retain the crown and the first Australian pair to do so since Margaret Court and Ken Fletcher 62 years ago.

“I can’t believe we’re in this position right now,” said Gadecki after claiming her second Grand Slam title alongside Peers, who secured his fourth.

“To hold the trophy again this year is incredible. I knew we could do it, but I didn’t think we could really do it.”

The French pair started strong, breaking Peers in the opening game and consolidating the advantage, but the Australians fought back to level at 2-2. The opening set became a roller-coaster with five breaks of serve. Mladenovic was broken while serving for the set, but the French duo eventually closed it out 6-4 on Guinard’s serve.

Spurred on by chants of “Aussie, Aussie, Aussie,” Gadecki and Peers settled in the second set, breaking early to lead 3-1. They held serve, and Peers sealed the set with an ace, forcing a 10-point tiebreak as the Rod Laver Arena crowd erupted.

The tiebreak saw early drama, including a double fault from Mladenovic that struck her partner’s back, giving the Australians a crucial advantage. The French duo edged ahead 7-5, but Gadecki and Peers clawed back, with Peers hitting a forehand winner to earn two championship points. The title was secured when Guinard, playing in his first Grand Slam final, found the net.

“Winning the Grand Slam once is super difficult, but defending the title is a very, very big task. So big congratulations,” said Mladenovic, a nine-time Grand Slam winner in doubles and mixed doubles.

“A couple of months ago I was barely walking; I was on crutches. The one who believed in me was him (Guinard), he was already planning and playing with me. So thank you very much for believing in me.”

-Reporting by Rohith Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Peter Rutherford/Reuters